non-stop fun

So, a long time haven’t written. Mostly due to laziness I won’t lie! Though, a lot has been going on here. I mean, obviously…it’s been a while since I wrote!

Well well, let me see. I shall have to sum it all up quite shortly otherwise this’ll be more boring than intended.  Since I last wrote we've done an incredible amount of work. It’s like all the time spent doing guarding duty was deliberate just so the last 2ish months of training could be jam-packed with training. I’m talking non-stop. Which is great, makes it exciting. However, when you’re doing nearly 17 hours of hard work with very little break time every day you get rather tired.

I highly doubt that anybody actually remembers what I was talking about with Targil Prat or Targil Chulia, because let’s face it, I’m not so great at explaining (or English in general) and it’s already an extremely foreign concept. But here’s to trying!

All of the following are based on the idea that you are storming a field whilst under attack. Because if not obviously you wouldn't really need to be shooting at all would you?

Prat (personal) = storming the field alone – this is basically a way to learn to fight on your own to prepare you for doing it in larger groups. You’d almost never actually have to do this alone in real “life”.

Chulia (translates to link, but more like a small group, 3-4 people) = storming the field as the group. Each person has a number, this way at all times somebody is covering your back, and also always making sure that everyone is there and ok. As a negivist (machine gunner) I am not actually with the group so much but more off to the side and in front. I am a bit of a free runner. I run when I feel I need to.

Kita (class) = Storming the field as a class. Using three chulia’s. Similar to doing it in the small group of Chulia except that now the class commander is making sure that each chulia works together as a class.

Machlaka (Platoon) = Made of three classes. This is different because you are not storming in a straight line but rather, each class storms a different area. For instance one will storm the first hill, they will then stay there while the second class goes around the base of the hill in stages. It’s basically storming a bigger area while covering one another. Involves a lot of running. A LOT

Pleuga (company) = made of three Machlakot. So take the same idea as Machlaka and multiply. This time a much larger field, and a lot more things cooperation between the Machlakot.

SO. All those took place, and for each drill there is first dry (yelling fire fire fire) and then wet (live fire), all also did day and night. So basically a lot of hard work. Especially since I have the negev, add a lot of weight. Think jumping down into lying position firing a bit, then jumping up and sprinting, REPEAT. But with + 20kg on you. 20 is a downsize as well. I should really have had 35kg on me. Just didn't have all the equipment (not complaining).

During the Kita drill I was lucky enough to dislocate my shoulder. Yes yes, lots of fun. Especially due to the fact that resting after that is pretty well impossible. There is only one Negev in each Kita, and the negev is vital to the drills. So yep. No rest was had. Infact I’m still waiting to get my shoulder scanned to see if I damaged it or no. Let’s hope no, I’m not good at being injured. Keep trying to do things and hurting myself again. Just don’t want to accept it!

During these past few months we did some really cool guarding. My group was working on a road block down near eilat, literally 500m from the Egyptian border. The reason the road block is there at all is because of an attack a few years ago. In short, terrorists came from Egypt shot lots of cars and bus, and because there was no road block at the time, the cars just kept coming-how would they know not to? Anyway, the work was really fun. Crazy hot (like 45degrees), but done in couples and because there were civilians was entertaining. Infact, people would drive past and give us junk foods and drinks. They were all very thankful that we were there.

A couple of really interesting things happened while I was there, can’t really talk in detail. But 1) prisoner transfer in front of me, 2)I personally stopped a suspicious car which was then searched with a dog. 3) closed of the road because of a terrorist at another location further down the road. 4) many times had to look out for certain cars which were reported in the radio.  FUN

 

  

I can't think to much what else we've been doing that's been interesting. I mean we're always doing loads, but interesting to people who aren't in the army... not too sure. 

How's this? If i remember i'll add. Sababa? Excellent!

Oh yeah. I'm currently on base (there's a chance i got in trouble....) I swear i have no idea what's happened. think maybe i need a change, getting tired or something. I'm just not being the soldier i was. This is the second shabbat I've gotten. The first for leaving the showers just in a towel, and this one for being late on returning to base. 

The thing on the showers though. We have three shower heads with hot water and 100 girls.  I say shower heads because our showers are in a small caravan with a section of "showers", it's really horrible. Aside from the fact that it's smelly, there is no room at all. And it's too hot because there are no windows. So really a great situation. We returned from a week in the field, where I'd been doing advanced negev training. In this heat everyone is VERY VERY smelly. We got given our hour off all at once, so its a rush to get in the shower, and not showering is less of an option. So i ran in with no clothes to change into after (everyone does it...just the stupid ones get caught---yes yes, me!) I got yelled at, alot! 

Anyway, till next time, or until i remember more interesting stuff. 

Your not so amazing soldier, Louise.